International Cooperation: ORT’s Global Aid Initiatives

ORT’s International Cooperation (IC) department responds to needs and challenges with a range of development programs, community training initiatives and humanitarian aid missions.

For decades we have helped disadvantaged people in Africa, Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, Latin America and Asia, regardless of their religion or ethnicity. Our IC programs are designed to meet local needs and to overcome economic, cultural and linguistic barriers while working with partners on the ground to integrate projects quickly and effectively. We focus on sectors in which ORT has earned a reputation for excellence and impact:

  • Vocational and technical education
  • Workforce development
  • NGO institutional building
  • Agriculture
  • Rural and urban development
  • Transportation

 

IC projects strive to establish self-sustaining training capacities worldwide by joining local experts, organizations, authorities and supporters. ORT provides specialists to develop customized technical assistance and training alongside strategies for rapid mobilization. Since 1960, ORT has run more than 350 programs in over 100 countries, aiding people and communities to have meaningful, self-sufficient futures. Backed by development institutions, donor agencies, private companies and foundations, IC has worked with partners ranging from UNESCO and the World Bank to Coca Cola and Hewlett Packard.

International Cooperation (IC) Symposium to ORT Sofia and IC Greece Refugee Empowerment Program

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International Cooperation Steering Committee

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IC History

IC developed its training and technical assistance capabilities in response to the rapidly changing environment, making a difference with hundreds of projects in dozens of countries over the decades.

The program  expanded beyond vocational education and human resource development to include new areas: transportation, agricultural training centers, civil society development and institutional strengthening, rural and urban development, health and community development, and specialized training for government ministries, public utilities, and industrial and commercial enterprises.

Funding for these projects was generated via governments in beneficiary countries, donor countries providing bilateral assistance, and voluntary agencies working in the field. The primary donor countries have included Canada, Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and the United States.

IC Project Highlights

Liberia

Trained 15,000 war-affected youth and adults in vocational skills; delivered a rapid response social mobilization campaign to raise awareness and educate 80,000 villagers about Ebola prevention.

Montenegro

Provided technical assistance and 225 grants to local NGOs to build capacity to deliver services in all sectors, e.g., domestic abuse against women and Association of Young Journalists.

Myanmar

Designed and constructed a National Skills Development Center for adult workforce development

Montenegro

Implemented activities throughout the country to foster greater inclusion of people with disabilities

Ghana

Trained small-scale farmers in organic and fair trade agricultural production and certification.

Sri Lanka

Improved access to water and markets for impoverished communities, repaired roads and improved access to potable water.

Albania

Trained 26,000 adults in demand-driven vocational skills and created a Job Placement Center to secure graduates’ employment